How to hire a food technologist

How to hire a food technologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step food technologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a food technologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food technologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a food technologist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The food technologist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect food technologist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of food technologists.

   Type of Food Technologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Food Technologist	Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural establishments and products.	$18-47
   Quality Control	As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes... Show more	$11-21
   Research And Development Chemist	A research and development chemist primarily works at laboratories to conduct extensive tests and experiments aiming to develop new products and technologies. Although the extent of their duties may vary, it typically revolves around conducting research and studies, observing chemical reactions, maintaining records and databases, collaborating with fellow experts, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing components or mixtures... Show more	$25-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Safety
   • Food Preparation
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • Cleanliness
   • Safety Standards
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Pilot Plant
   • Food Handling
   • GMP
   • Test Results
   • Quality Standards
   • QA
   • Culinary
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and process data and presentations and manage technical documents for FDA & USDA.
   • Organize schedules for employees and set payroll -Provide direction and solve employee problems -Be extremely personable & manage stock control
   • Train and supervise employees GMP and GHP.
   • Create process controls and preventative actions through HACCP system/principles.
   • Prepare and package foods according to USDA standards for consumer consumption
   • Maintain up to date knowledge of USDA regulations, policies and appropriate product technology.

   More food technologist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the food technologist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A food technologist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a food technologist in Arizona may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level food technologist. Additionally, a food technologist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average food technologist salary

   $62,229yearly

   $29.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level food technologist salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average food technologist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$76,791	$37
   2	New York	$76,568	$37
   3	California	$75,235	$36
   4	Michigan	$72,648	$35
   5	Maryland	$70,642	$34
   6	New Jersey	$63,766	$31
   7	Hawaii	$61,718	$30
   8	Massachusetts	$61,393	$30
   9	Wisconsin	$58,474	$28
   10	Washington	$58,316	$28
   11	Tennessee	$50,592	$24
   12	North Dakota	$50,343	$24
   13	Texas	$48,509	$23
   14	Arkansas	$44,704	$21
   15	Colorado	$44,567	$21
   16	Florida	$37,164	$18
   17	North Carolina	$34,255	$16

   Average food technologist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	LexisNexis Reed Tech	$96,258	$46.28
   2	Mérieux NutriSciences	$88,770	$42.68	3
   3	Beyond Meat	$82,695	$39.76
   4	Rich Products	$81,036	$38.96	2
   5	The Hershey Company	$78,884	$37.92	9
   6	GradyHealth	$78,570	$37.77	14
   7	ADM	$77,487	$37.25	12
   8	Kellogg	$77,032	$37.03
   9	Firmenich	$76,538	$36.80
   10	Shaklee	$75,005	$36.06
   11	Utz Brands	$74,512	$35.82
   12	Talking Rain	$74,298	$35.72	1
   13	Turtle Mountain Community College	$72,366	$34.79
   14	Wonton Food	$72,088	$34.66
   15	Optimum Nutrition	$71,900	$34.57	5
   16	Hormel Foods	$68,368	$32.87	4
   17	Niagara Bottling	$67,670	$32.53	1
   18	Bama Companies	$67,512	$32.46
   19	Kroger	$67,315	$32.36	98
   20	Ready Pac Foods	$67,153	$32.29

4. Writing a food technologist job description

   A good food technologist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a food technologist job description:

   Food technologist job description example

   Job Description- Prepare Samples using good overall lab practices and document each step and ensure testing area sanitized after each set of samples.
   
   - Set up evaluation room for testing; which includes delivery and pickup of individual samples, basic daily cleanup, overall general knowledge and expected behavior when exposed to external panelists.
   
   - Track samples as they are moved through testing. Ensure communication with other groups regarding sample arrivals as well as sensory test schedules and samples still needed to complete sensory sessions.
   - Evaluate samples for expiration dates and proper and safe handling practices.
   - Follow master preparation documentation, methods and standard operating procedures and ensure documentation as required
   - Document training to meet quality systems and ask questions of supervisor to gain additional knowledge as it pertains to methods and processes within Sensory.
   - Report all errors to Supervisor; assist in investigation for sensory non-conformances.
   - Share information with clients, coworkers, supervisor and managers in a professional and courteous manner and ensure appropriate interaction with external panelists and potential participants
   - Share any supply needs as needed to ensure stock is available and testing proceeds without interruption.
   - Perform housekeeping tasks and update document, sign off and place in binder for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly records. Ensure work is completed, documented, signed and given to appropriate personnel.
   
   Company DescriptionMérieux NutriSciences is dedicated to improving food safety and quality through nutritional research, scientific excellence and innovation at every step of the food supply chain.
   
   Food safety and quality are at the very heart of our expertise as a leading partner to the global food industry.
   
   From isolating and identifying foodborne pathogens to guaranteeing product stability and nutritional content, we offer a full portfolio of contract research services to ensure the quality and safety of foods from concept development to retail shelf.
   
   Mérieux NutriSciences professionals can help food companies develop and implement their Food Safety Plan according to the applicable regulations.
   
   Around the world, Mérieux NutriSciences offers testing, auditing, consulting, training, and research services – all of which can be customized to meet the needs of manufacturers, food processors, caterers and retailers.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find food technologists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any food technologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level food technologists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your food technologist job on Zippia to find and recruit food technologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting food technologists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new food technologist

   Once you've decided on a perfect food technologist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new food technologist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a food technologist?